Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 3 toed boxie eats his own poop any chance he gets. While grossing me out to no end I wondered if there is something lacking in his diet or something that would make him do this. Also, is it harmful to him in the long run to do it?

We feed him a variety of greens, fruit, veggies, and cooked chicken (occasionally a worm or two if I find one) since bugs are in short suply right now and I just don't have the time or resources to go and buy them. He also has a cuttle bone which he chews on regularly.

It's possible that something is lacking in the diet. Coprophagia is common in a lot of animals, some mammals need to do this in order to get certain nutrients.
The main reason I wouldn't want to see reptiles do it would be IF they happen to be infected with parasites then they will continue to infect themselves unless treated & feces removed before they can eat it.
It might not be a bad idea to try a few more bugs in the diet to see if that'll stop them. I like feeding crickets to mine because once a week or so because they are the easiest bugs to coat with vitamin/mineral powder.
Do you use a vitamin/mineral powder? If not that may be what they need.
Mine are ornates & they are more carnivorous than 3 toed but mine are very picky when it comes to vegetation. It's not easy to get them to eat their veggies, there is no way I can powder foods like that because they will absolutely refuse it with powder on it so I have to use bugs for powders.
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PHRatz

I do give him some vitamin powder at least once a month. I can usually get him to eat fruit that has been sprinkled with it if I don't feed him anything the day before. In the summer we were coating romainelettuce with the vitamin powder and then letting slugs feed on it for a few days before turning them over to him.

He was treated for worms and parasites by the vet when we got him in August(neighbors found him on a busy road, not native to Oregon, I took him in before I knew what I was getting myself into :0) but I don't know if he was snacking on it back then or not.

Try feeding him more often-once every 2nd day and see if the extra food in his stomach doesn't make him stop. You can add vitamin and mineral suppliments once a week instead of just monthly. Also-all poop should be removed in a timely manner-not left around so he can get to it Does he have a large shallow bowl to soak in? Mine will poop in that if they can--if yours does too it will be easier for you to clean up the feces-just remove the dish and clean.
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

Good grief! I can see that I shouldn't post in the mornings before I have had my quota of caffeine.
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PHRatz